Finding a true ally in the game of Survivor is as rare as winning the $1 million prize. But sometimes, to get to that top spot, players must take a risk and betray that one person who truly had their back in the first place, to earn the title of soul survivor.

Just a few weeks ahead of the anticipated finale of Survivor: David vs Goliath, it was 25-year-old Denver-based technical writer Gabby Pascuzzi who began plotting her way to the end. But the only person she believed stood in her way to the finish line was her Day One friend, Christian Hubicki, who quickly earned the title of number one threat in the game for his loveable charisma and unmistakable determination.

Despite leaning on her ally up until Day 32, Gabby decided that it was time to take a risk to rid herself from the shadow of her overpowering partner to earn her own notoriety in the game. But she didn’t realize that Christian was already onto her ploy to oust him and heading into tribal council, he used his hidden immunity idol, sending Gabby out instead.

“To see myself live out my dream was exciting. To see my exit episode was a little bit tough but I think I was even less emotional than I thought I would be, because I’m really proud of the way that I went out,” Pascuzzi said the day after her elimination episode aired.

The Colorado-based castaway had realized it was time to make a move following a visit from their loved ones from home. After watching Christian interact with and console his girlfriend, she realized that he had played a similar role during her time on the island and she was looking to finish the rest of the game as a solo player.

While the plan seemed to be in motion, Gabby wasn’t expecting things to play out like they did at tribal council.

“We did have a backup plan in case Christian ended up playing his idol. I thought the other three votes were going to be for Alison (Raybould),” she explained. “I was nervous about voting out Christian, but I was hopeful that the plan would make sense. It was a big moment for me in terms of taking the game into my own hands and doing something that was risky but that could have a really big payoff.”

It was Davie Rickenbacker who tipped Christian off and informed him he was on the chopping block. And after pulling out his idol to save himself following the vote, two rogue votes from Angelina Keeley and Mike White sent Gabby packing as the 6th member of the jury.

“I did not know before tribal. He and I were chatting completely normally so now I know that we were both completely lying to each other, but it was at tribal where I started to feel really uneasy just based on how comfortable everyone else felt,” she said.

“That’s when I started to feel like something was not right. But when he got up to play his idol, that’s when I knew it was just terrible. I thought the worst-case scenario was Alison going home. Little did I know; the worst-case scenario was me going home.”